Book Review - Jewel of the Nile

There are books that are read and shelved. You read them and move on, having enjoyed the foray into the lives of the characters and soon to forget them as new characters in a new novel move to the forefront. Other books are enjoyable fiction that get into your soul in a very non-fiction way. The characters and their events are fiction, but the truths are fact and prompt the reader to delve more deeply into that truth and what it means personally. Jewel of the Nile by Tessa Afshar is an excellent example of this.

Chariline has grown up an orphan in the care of her emotionally distant aunt and barely tolerated by her grandparents. When whispers reveal that her father may actually be alive, Chariline feels compelled to search to the ends of the earth to find him. In the search for her father, she must excise the scars of her heart and lay them before the One who will never abandon her. However, Chariline is not alone in feeling guilty, unworthy, unlovable, and confused about reconciling those old hurts with the Lord's truth.

In Jewel of the Nile, we are treated to the continued storyline of dear Theo, who I have loved since his appearance in Thief of Corinth and Daughter of Rome. Theo has much to teach Chariline and much to learn from her, as well. I love the way Afshar weaves their stories around beloved New Testament characters and historical figures, using rich historical detail to immerse the reader in the setting. Jewel of the Nile is a treasure among tomes, and should be savored for its rich delights.

Jewel of the Nile is available June 1 from your favorite local bookseller or online.

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Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - Never Miss

It is one thing when a sniper rescues someone else's mark. It is another thing entirely when the two find that their stories intersect in an unexpected way. Add in a terrorist organization in possession of weaponized Ebola, bent on relieving Mother Earth of her parasitic occupants, and you get Melissa Koslin's explosive debut novel, Never Miss. Kadance and Lyndon hurdle through one obstacle after another, all while struggling with whatever may or may not be blooming between them. She is a former sniper in hiding from her family, an elite marksman with skills beyond compare. He is a socially awkward genius without a family. It's a perfect storm brewing intense emotions for two individuals who are logical to a fault.

Koslin breaks into the Christian romantic suspense genre with a solid premise and some highlight- worthy quotes. The story moves from one event to the next at breakneck speed, keeping with the timeline established, but sometimes leaving the reader wondering, "What just happened here?" I look forward to seeing what she comes up with for her next novel.

Never Miss by Melissa Koslin is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online.

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Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Book Review - At Lighthouse Point

Suzanne Woods Fisher takes us back to peaceful Three Sister Island in her latest release, At Lighthouse Point. Blaine, the youngest of the three sisters, has returned home upon graduation from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu and is ready to make her fine dining dreams for Camp Kicking Moose come true. She’s also ready to prove to her family that she has outgrown her baby-of-the-family identity, if only they can see it. But Three Sisters Island also changed while she was away; getting used to those changes is going to take some peace, some patience, and a whole lot of determination. While Blaine learned some valuable lessons in Paris, the Grayson family still has a lot to learn about themselves and about each other.

The Three Sisters Island series was new to me when I found At Lighthouse Point, but I am glad that I waited until I was able to read the first two books and really get to know the Grayson family before diving into the most recent release. Fisher has created a family that is truly lovable, flaws and all, as well as supporting characters with personalities as big as the frantic Atlantic. Although, At Lighthouse Point is written well enough that it could be read on its own, I recommend enjoying the entire series from your favorite spot on the beach, poolside, or in your hammock this summer.

At Lighthouse Point by Suzanne Woods Fisher is currently available from your favorite local bookseller or online:

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Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.